Officiating a wedding in Utah
Registration, the license, and who returns it — the essentials for officiants.
Informational only. Informational only, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with the county clerk or issuing office that handles the license.
Reviewed August 2026 · Issuing office: utahcounty.gov
Can you officiate, and is registration required?
Utah sets no officiant registration: a county clerk states that Utah law does not require officiants to register with the state or county, and lists authorization by a religious denomination, including online ordinations, first among the authorized categories. Judges, several state officers, county clerks and their designees, military chaplains and legislators may also solemnize. Utah moved its marriage law into a new title of the code in September 2024 and the state’s own statute pages would not render during this review, so these points rest on two county clerk pages that agree rather than on statutory text. The license must be used within 32 days of issuance, and two witnesses aged 18 or older watch the declarations and the pronouncement.
Who returns the license, and by when
The individual who solemnized returns the certificate to the clerk of the county that issued the license within 30 days after the ceremony, naming at least two witnesses, and failing to return it is an infraction. Confirm the window with the issuing county clerk.
Suggested return window: about 30 days after the ceremony. Confirm the current deadline with the issuing clerk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Utah accept an online ordination?
A county clerk lists authorization by a religious denomination, including online ordinations, as the first authorized category. That is a county clerk’s statement rather than statutory text, and the code was recodified in 2024, so confirm with the issuing clerk.
Do you have to register to officiate in Utah?
No. A county clerk states that Utah law does not require officiants to register with the state or county. Counties do run their own optional designee programs.
When is a Utah marriage certificate due back?
Within 30 days after the ceremony, to the clerk of the county that issued the license, naming at least two witnesses.
Never miss a return deadline
RiteBinder's license tracker keeps every state's note in front of you (free, no card). On Solo it also turns the signed license into a task and reminds you before the deadline.
Confirm the current rule with the issuing office:utahcounty.gov.